Germany’s football federation said “human rights are not negotiable” after players from the country’s World Cup team covered their mouths in protest at FIFA’s ban on a rainbow-themed armband on Wednesday.German Football Federation tweeted that the gesture’s goal is to point to human rights issues in Qatar.”This is not a political position. Human rights are not negotiable. To ban the armband is like banning our right to speak.” It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important to us.Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position. pic.twitter.com/tiQKuE4XV7— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 23, 2022 All Germany players took part in the gesture in front of dozens of photographers on the pitch ahead of kickoff, after world soccer body FIFA had threatened seven European teams with sanctions if they wore the armband symbolising diversity and tolerance.
